Lending Libraries
Adults can share, too.
(Expected reading time: 4-6 minutes.)
535. Lending Libraries
. . . If we are practicing Collective Action (506 - to be published) and Generosity (509 - to be published) in community, it will naturally follow that we will want to develop collective, not just individual, expressions of generosity. The Necklace of Community Projects (45) creates a general framework for these practices, but within that framework, our communities have specific needs to address.
Each of us does not need to own a circular saw.
From a young age, we teach children about the importance of sharing. Yet as we advance into adulthood, this lesson fades from our own awareness or decision making. On a given street in any American town, it is likely that every household owns its own lawnmower, weed trimmer, and perhaps snowblowers, even though each individual household uses these items for a couple hours a week at most. Power tools pile up in the basements and garages of America, gathering dust. The hardware stores are full, and doing a brisk business, but few of the individual consumers give a thought to whether they really need to own what they are buying.
The same questions arise for certain seasons of life. When babies are born, they advance quickly through stages of growth that each have their own needs. Car seats, strollers, high chairs, and much more are needed for a time, and then not again. Even for families having multiple kids, it doesn’t necessarily make sense to hold onto all of the equipment. Many extended families and neighborhood groups have worked out how to share or exchange these goods among themselves, but access to these networks is a function of wealth and privilege.
Power tools and baby gear are just two of the potential use cases for Lending Libraries, which can serve as community-wide resources for sharing and distributing useful goods. The free public libraries of the United States, which have served as a model for the rest of the world, have been expanding in these directions in recent years. But their coverage and scope of offerings remains limited; lending beyond books is still not a universally accepted idea.
At the same time, private organizations have arisen to offer tool lending, baby gear, and maker spaces with paid memberships or borrowing fees. These organizations are a step in the right direction, but there are potential barriers to access from their fee structures.
It has been observed that if free public libraries didn’t already exist, it would be difficult to create them today. Their very structure creates an alternative, if not a direct challenge, to capitalist profits. There are constant threats to the funding and content of US public libraries, even though they represent a critical part of the social safety net in American communities living in poverty.
By expanding the scope and coverage of lending libraries, communities can provide in a collaborative way for their own needs. Individuals and households can save money by reducing redundant consumption and maintenance costs. Taking an inventory of the community’s needs and existing resources, and using lending libraries to address those needs, can help knit together neighborhoods and towns.
Therefore:
Let every neighborhood and town create shared lending libraries, funded by the community at zero to minimal cost for individual users, that address the full scope of the people’s needs for goods that are only needed by individuals from time to time. Conduct an inventory of the community’s needs on a regular basis, so that its lending libraries remain relevant, well-stocked, and generous in their support of the people.
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The use of lending libraries is one way to make it easier for citizens to practice Asking For Help (541 - to be published). The libraries should be located within the Web of Shopping (19) and the Market of Many Shops (46) for ease of community access, and as a visible alternative to redundant consumption. Consider co-locating some lending library resources with community gathering places like the Street Cafe (88), and use Reception Welcomes You (149) to make the entrance to each library inviting for all. . . .
Next time in Build Notes: A discussion of meatballs, and why they matter so much for community.
I’ve started a new community radio show, Postcards from Jubilee Station (Spotify) (Apple), which uses these patterns to offer a story-based meditation practice. What does it feel like when we all decide to be generous with each other - with all of us? In recent episodes, we’ve volunteered with the Puzzle Exchange, and visited the Union Hall to help get ready for Mothers’ Day. Hope to see you over there.
Yours in sharing, Michael